The strongest candidate to take over as head coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Dav Whatmore, has made it clear to the PCB that he wants full authority and powers in selection matters if he accepts the job. According to a PCB official Whatmore had made his demands very clear to them.
The member said in discussions with the committee head, Whatmore had said if he was to coach the team he wanted final authority in selection. The member said the committee had conveyed Whatmore’s demand to the PCB which is now considering the matter.
“Apparently, Whatmore is aware that former foreign coaches, Richard Pybus, Bob Woolmer and in particular, Geoff Lawson faced many issues with the national selectors in selection of teams and playing eleven,” the report said.
It said that Lawson had clashed with former chief selector, Salahuddin in 2008 after which both were not on talking terms until the Australian was sacked.
Whatmore, who has coached the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh teams, is apparently aware of the culture in the PCB.
The PCB is already facing a catch-22 situation whether to bring in the new coaching staff before the England series or to continue with the winning combination of captain Misbah-ul-Haq and interim coach Mohsin Khan.
Pakistan’s former captain, Aamir Sohail has also weighed in with his advice to the board to retain Mohsin and not change the winning combination of the Pakistan team. “I think we have experimented with foreign coaches in the past and we should now utilise the coaches we have in the national academy. Mohsin has done a good job and I see no reason for changing him before the England series,” Sohail said.